College Basketball Insider Addresses Possibility Of Zion Returning To Duke

MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - APRIL 05: Zion Williamson of the Duke Blue Devils speaks during a press conference after being awarded the USBWA Oscar Robertson Trophy Player of the Year prior to the 2019 NCAA men's Final Four at U.S. Bank Stadium on April 5, 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Mike Lawrie/Getty Images)

The New Orleans Pelicans’ win in the 2019 NBA Draft Lottery actually has some people speculating about Zion Williamson deciding to return to Duke for his sophomore season. The projected No. 1 overall pick could technically withdraw from the draft if he wanted to.

Even ESPN NBA insider Brian Windhorst says the league is buzzing about the possibility.

“He does have some options. I’m not saying he’s going to pick these options, but he has not signed with an agent and he has not signed a shoe deal yet,” Windhorst explained today. “He could threaten to go back to Duke.”

Windhorst added: “It’s a conversation that’s happening in the NBA right now.”

A college basketball insider is here to shoot that idea down, though.

247Sports college basketball insider Evan Daniels has a message for everyone speculating about Duke getting another year out of Zion.

It’s not happening.

I’m actually getting text messages asking if Zion Williamson is going back to Duke for another year. If you believe that’s possible… pic.twitter.com/aHlAU9hkuE

Zion, of course, would be taking a massive, massive financial risk by returning to Duke for another year. There’s also no guarantee that the 2020 NBA Draft Lottery would result in a better fit at No. 1 overall.

What if New Orleans wins it again? What if Orlando or Sacramento or Memphis or another small market wins it? Does he go back to Duke for a junior year?